DANIELLE RUIZ-MURPHY CENTER – EXETER

The Danielle Ruiz-Murphy Center is currently CLOSED due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Any changes in this status will be made on our website.

HUMANE PENNSYLVANIA COVID-19 RESPONSE

In order to protect our staff and clients and to support the intent of the universal recommendations of health professionals at a national, state, and local level, Humane Pennsylvania and Humane Veterinary Hospitals will be dramatically scaling back operations until Friday, May 8, 2020. >> more details

Thanks for your patience and understanding during this time. Support for HPA means more to us now than ever. Consider making a donation to help the animals. >> donate online

DANIELLE RUIZ-MURPHY CENTER

Address: 503 S Center Road, Birdsboro, PA 19508 | Phone: 610-921-2348

The Danielle Ruiz-Murphy Center for Animal Welfare is a combined free community dog park and multi-acre equine rescue center.

The Ruiz-Murphy Dog Park is open seven days a week during daylight hours and is free to the public. All rules and regulations are posted at the park. Please enjoy the park safely and remember that although it is free to you, it is not free to us to operate. Please make a donation online now to support the park or pick up a donation brochure when you visit to make a donation by mail!

Important notice for park goers with “rough playing dogs”, sailor’s mouths and unruly children: We have received a few complaints (Keyword “few,” because we generally receive glowing reviews and are greatly appreciative for them!) that fall in three basic categories: Owners with dogs who play rough, owners with improperly supervised children, and people who don’t know how to act and speak civilly. If you fall into any of these groups, please take the following into consideration:

My dog likes to “play rough”: That’s wonderful! But it doesn’t mean people want your dog “playing rough” with theirs. It is your responsibility to be attentive and if people don’t want your dog pouncing all over theirs, even if they don’t say so and just look uncomfortable, you need to control your dog. Failure to do so may result in being banned (and should it result in injury could result in civil and criminal penalties).

My kids are just having fun: That’s wonderful! But your kids are also vastly more likely to get bitten if they are running around, eating, and making a ton of noise. The dog park is there for dogs and we must ask you to make sure your children are protected by being within arm’s reach, quiet, and still. Failure to do so may result in being banned.

I talk/act like an extra on Deadwood/Boardwalk Empire/Game of Thrones: That’s not cool at all and will not be tolerated. Aggressive behavior directed at other park goers, intimidation or use of profanity will result in your being banned from the park and may result in criminal charges being filed against you.

It is the tiniest fraction of a minority who create issues. We truly appreciate your efforts to not be among that minority and to allow us to keep the park open, free and fun for everyone. Thank you!

DOG PARK PARTNERS

The Humane Society of Berks County maintains the Danielle Ruiz-Murphy Center as a free community dog park for residents of Berks County and their furry friends. But brother, that ain’t cheap! In addition to financial support from donors like you, the HSBC seeks donations of items and services to help us keep the park open, beautiful, and free. We’d like to thank the following businesses for their support, and we ask that you remember to support the businesses that support the HSBC!

A very generous donation from J.P. Mascaro & Sons and the Mascaro family established the Danielle Ruiz-Murphy Center in 2010. Their support enabled the HSBC to realize a long-planned community dog park, and we can’t thank them enough!Click here to visit J.P. Mascaro & Sons’ website.

Wanner Gardens of Douglassville has supplied landscaping materials and advice to the HSBC for a number of projects over the past four years, including donations to the Danielle Ruiz-Murphy Center. Visit Wanner here!

Schmehl’s Lawn Service mows and maintains the grassy lawns and pastures at the Danielle Ruiz-Murphy Center. They have generously donated services and materials including pasture maintenance and mulch to help us keep the park beautiful.
2319 Limekiln Road, Douglassville PA 19518 (610) 582-5382

Owners/handlers must be within visual range and voice control of their dogs at all times.

There is a maximum of 3 dogs per owner/handler in the park.

No food is allowed in the off-leash park.

No animals other than dogs are permitted in the off-leash park.

Uncontrollable behavior or aggression will not be tolerated. People or animals displaying this behavior will leave the dog park immediately.

Dogs in heat or under six months old are not permittedi n the dog park.

All dogs using the dog park must be healthy, properly licensed, and have current inoculations. Dogs must wear collars with license, rabies tags and rescue information.

The off-leash park is for dog play, not child play. Children under 6 must be within arm’s reach of an adult at all times. Children 6-13 must be under strict supervision of an adult at all times. No vehicles or children’s toys are permittedi n the dog park.

Violators will be subject to removal from the park and/or fines.

DOG PARK HOURS

7:00 am to dusk
(Seven days a week)

Equine adoption by appointment only.

Please call (610) 750-6100, ext. 218 to make an appointment.

ART FOR ARF’S SAKE

Join us on Saturday, November 14, 2020 for Humane Pennsylvania’s Art for Arf’s Sake Auction! Join Andy Warhowl in his Silfur Factory at this year’s event and support the animals in our care.

The Santander Performing Arts Center will be transformed into Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory and guests will delighted and entertained by the sights and sounds of this iconic artistic.

PINTS FOR PUPS

We have been forced to make the unfortunate decision to go ahead and cancel our 2020 Mega Pints for Pups event originally scheduled for Saturday, July 11 at FirstEnergy Stadium, due to COVID-19. We are disappointed, as this was the year we decided to bring back one of our most popular events.

We will do everything possible to make our 2021 mega Pints for Pups event one to remember! Check back for updates.

43rd ANNUAL VIRTUAL WALK FOR THE ANIMALS & WALKTOBERFEST

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed virtually everything this year about how we live and work. That’s why Humane Pennsylvania is holding a VIRTUAL Walk for the Animals this year, too!
Due to the uncertainty of our ability to bring thousands of people and pets safely together this year on September 12, Humane Pennsylvania is inviting you to support our work this June 19-21, 2020 with a one-of-a-kind Virtual 43rd Annual Walk for the Animals & Walktoberfest!

It will look different, and feel different than our past 42 years, but this might be our most important Walk ever! As essential front line workers, Humane Pennsylvania and our hospitals stayed open, housing and adopting pets, providing emergency veterinary care, and distributing over 120,000 pounds of pet food and supplies since March 16 when the closures began.

TAILWAGGER’S TRICK OR TREAT

Save the Date for this Tailwagger’s Trick or Treat! Back at Buchanan Park on Saturday, October 10, 2020. This year’s event will feature even more tricks and treats.